Prosecutor: Man slapped, spit on Illinois judge

Wednesday

Jul 16, 2014 at 11:00 AM

The Associated Press

CHICAGO — Illinois prosecutors are charging a Chicago man with a hate crime after they say he spat at and slapped a black female judge.

An assistant state's attorney tells the Chicago Sun-Times that David Nicosia told Judge Arnette Hubbard he wanted her to stop smoking outside a Chicago courthouse. The attorney says Nicosia called the 79-year-old judge "Rosa Parks" and spat in her face.

A county sheriff's spokeswoman says 55-year-old Nicosia walked away but Hubbard followed and confronted him. She says Nicosia spit on Hubbard again.

Hubbard was the first woman elected to head the National Bar Association and the Cook County Bar Association.

Nicosia is also charged with aggravated battery and being held on bail.